MISCELLANEOUS PAliTICULAIiS. 45 



(if attitudo a,ud appropriate iuiitaticju of tlie birds' natural sunouudiugs arc; to be secured. A 

 iiuiiiaturc tree, ou whicli a nuuiber of birds may bo placed, is reailily iiutde. Take stout wire, 

 and by bcudiiig it, aud attaching other pieces, get the fraiiiework- of the tiei; of the desired size, 

 sliape, and number (jf perches. Wrap it closely with tow t(j a proper calil>re, remembering 

 that the two fijrks of a stem must be together only about as large as the stem itself. Gathei- 

 a basket full of lichens and tree moss ; reduce them to coarse powder by rubbing with the 

 hands ; besmear the whole tree witli mucilage w thin glue, and sift the lichen powder on it till 

 the tow is completely hidden. This jiroduces a very natural effect, which may be heightened 

 by separat(.'ly affixing larger scraps of lichen, or little bunches of moss; artificial leaves and 

 tloM-ers may be added at ycjur taste. The groimdvi-ork may be similarly prejiared with a bit 

 of boar<l, made adhesive and bestrewn with tlie same substance; grasses and moss may be 

 addi.'d. If a tlat surface is not desired, soak stout pasteboard till it can be moulded in various 

 irregular elevations aud depressions; lay it over the board and decorate it in the same way. 

 R(.icks may bo thus nicely imitated, with the addition of powdered glass of various colcjrs. 

 Such a k>t of birds is g(!nerally <'nclosed in a cylindrical glass case \\'\{\\ arclied to]5. As it 

 stands on a table to be viewed from different points, it must be presentable ou all sides. A 

 niche in parlor or study is often fitted witli a wall-case, which, when artistically arranged, has 

 a very pleasing effect. As such cases may be of considerable size, there is opportunity for the 

 display of great taste in grouping. A place is not to be found fVir a bird, but a bird for the 

 place, — waders and swimmers below cjn the ground, perchers on projecting rests above. 

 The surroundings may be prepared by the methods just indicated. One point deserves atten- 

 tion here; since the birds are only viewed from the front, they may have a "show-side" to 

 which everything else may be sacrihced. Birds ar(/ rejjresented tiying in such cases more 

 readily tlian under other circumstances, supported on a concealed wire inserted in the back of 

 the case. I have seen some very successful attempts to represent a bird swimming, the duck 

 being let down part way through an oval hole in a plate of thick glass, underneath which 

 were fixed stuffed fishes, shells, and seaweed. It is hardly necessary to add that in all orna- 

 mental collections, lahcds or other scientific machinery must be rigorously suppressed. 



Trausportati(m of mounted birds offers obvious difficulty. Uidess very small, they are 

 best secm-ed immovably inside a box l)y screwing the foot of the stands to the bottom and 

 sides, so that they stay in place witliout touching each other. Or, they nuiy bo carefully packed 

 in cotton, with or without removal of the stands. Their preservation from accidental injury 

 depends upon the same cai'e that is bestowed upon ordinary fragile (jrnaments of the parhjr. 

 The ravages (jf insects are to be prevented upon the principles to be hereafter given in treating 

 of the preservation of birdskins. 



§ 8. — MISCELLANEOUS PARTICULARS. 



Determination of Se.x. — This is an important matter, which must never be neglected. 

 For although many birds show unequivocal sexual distinctions of size, shape, and color, like 

 those of the barnyard cock and lien for instance, yet the outward characteristics are more 

 frequently obscure, if not altogether inajjpreciable, on examination of the skin alone. Young 

 birds, moreover, are usually indistinguishable as to sex, althougli the adults (jf the same species 

 may be easily recognized. The rule results, that the sexual organs should be examined as the 

 <jnly infallible indices. The essential organs of masculinity are tlie testicles ; similarly, the 

 ovaries contain the essence of the female nature. However similar tho accessory sexual struc- 

 tures may be, the testicles and ovaries are always distinct. The male organs of birds never 

 leave the cavity of the belly to fill an external bag of skin (scrotum) as they do among 

 mammalia ; they remain within the abdomen, and lie in the same position as the ovaries 

 of tho female. Both these organs are situated in the belly opposite what corresponds to the 



